Hospital NPs & Lounge Access

[wyld~heart]

Recently the Hospital Board decided to deny NPs and PAs access to the Providers Lounge. Their rationale was condescending to say the least. So MDs have their own space, as do the Residents and Med Students.

NPs and PAs, who are ALL revenue earners, do not.

I was curious what other hospitals are doing.

[babyNP., APRN]

A survey is an excellent notion. It has been sometime since I have been on allnurses. Had to create a new account.. So will have to familiarize myself again with the options..

Thanks for the info. We are also a Level 1 trauma, but in the deep south..

SO old boys network at its finest.

Well, there's your answer- the deep south. Lack of autonomy and respect runs rampant in those places. Florida only recently obtained schedule II rights (crazy!!!)

I work in the NW and have access to the doctor's lounges.

[Darth Practicus]

I'm curious to know how the hospital board representation is structured. Is it exclusively represented by MDs and DOs? Is there mid-level representation? And what was the instigating set of circumstances that led to this decision?

As others have stated, this action sends a strong negative message to any mid-level provider that they are not part of the "team." This is a cultural problem that supercedes being just a lounge access issue. This would be rather disheartening and while you might be looking at just the lounge access across other facilities and health systems, you might also tap into research showing the strong correlation between employee satisfaction and health outcomes of patients.

Good luck.

Darth Practicus, FNP

[Sour Lemon]

Don't be all pissed off your not getting free bagels and missing out on crape Tuesdays. Even before I finished school I knew the code to the lounge. Just blow some baby powder on the push pins and you got access after some trial and error on the key pad. Keep me out of free cookies and coffee I could have gotten from the patient pantry, oh no hell no Mr Man no way! I'm going in and abusing that free Quaker Oat meal instant packs and sitting in a place of awkward cliques of people that I wouldn't have associated even in an apocalypse.

I used to stop by the doctors' lounge for freebies as an ADN student during clinicals. I did get a few looks here and there, but nobody ever said anything. I don't remember there being a code to get in, but it was at least eightish years ago, so I'm not entirely sure.

[Rnis, BSN, DNP, APRN, NP]

NPs and PAs had access and then it was revoked at the hospital I worked at as an RN (the doctors took a vote) . Their sister hospital allows access for all providers. This is in Wisconsin.

[mkk99]

As a CNM, I have access to the "doctor's" lounge at my hospital, but I sure do get dirty looks from the doctors when I dare to grab a full sized soda from the fridge (the rest of the hospital has the little ones). Thankfully it's a rare occasion I have any direct contact with the med/surg doctors in a professional capacity so I haven't found it an issue.

[Jules A, MSN]

While the subject is a burr under your saddle I think it's a symptom of a bigger problem. Seeking acknowledgement and respect is more important than access to the speshul sekrit lair.

Not to diminish your disgruntlement, but it would irk me too to be blatantly and purposefully shunned like that. But I think there are other fish to fry.

I'm with you on not whining over insignificant issues however that this is such blatant indication of their lack of respect and one that has nothing to do with our abilities or scope of practice I'd be inclined to strike quickly and swiftly because it is the start of a slippery slope. If they take this lying down imo it sets precedence and opens the door for further steamrolling and disparity. This is going to ultimately be an indication of what power if any the mid levels have at this institution.

Although it sounds extreme as another poster mentioned if the midlevel group's demand to have lounge access was not met I would look for another job. There is no way I would accept this or be in support of spending one second attempting to find out what other facilities are doing to justify midlevels right to use the lounge. JMO

[BostonFNP, APRN]

Our NPs/PAs/CRNAs/CNWs all have access to the provider lounge.

The lounge access itself is petty, your issue is a much broader one that needs to be addressed.

[scuba nurse, BSN, MSN, RN]

When I worked in the hospital setting there was NO FREE stuff in the lounge! Just comfy chairs to nap in , computers and phones! And a room for "on call" that had cots in it.

[Jules A, MSN]

Part of my interview tour in a hospital of the first state to secede (not proud, just saying that's how backwards my state is) took me to the lounge. I even spoke with my now coworker of the free catered lunch. (Buffet M-F for lunch!) It was a Wednesday, and the reason I know that is because on Wednesdays, we have fried chicken. (among other, healthier choices).

Haha. They still hired me after seeing me eat. This amuses me.

Great story and I'd like to apply to work with you as we only get skimpy cold sandwiches and soup, lol.

[TicTok411]

A few years back I was working in an ED and was going to get a soda from the cafeteria when I had a half of a second to breath. The PA sitting next to me handed me her badge and said to just grab one from the provider's lounge. I knew it was there next to the ED but had never gone there. I never knew they got free stuff. Geez, I went in and it was hooked up with boxed lunches, free soda, water and the expensive starbucks drink. There were cookies, cakes and tons of other free snack bars. I was shocked!! The I was angry! They stopped providing an employee discount in the cafeteria and we would get reamed fro clocking in a minute early or a minute late but they gave all this free stuff away to the providers.

Now, I have access to the hospital where I work and it is not as lavish as the one next to where I had worked prior. I hardly ever go in and my providers are always encouraging me to go. One even dragged me there with him to check it out. I would be very offended if the facility denied access. It would be a slap in the face. Granted, it is a minor thing but is speaks volumes about what they actually think of the advanced practice providers.

[GigiF]

That's why they call it the "Doctor's Lounge". I have never heard it called the " Provider's Lounge" but good try. NP's and PA's aren't the only ones who generate revenue (actually, we all do). So do Speech Pathologists, Phyical therapists, Occupational therapists, etc. Get over it.

[MikeFNPC, MSN]

I agree with some of the other comments that refer to it not being a access to the lounge problem. I'd look for another job.